AP USH CH15: THE COMING CRISIS

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

(1852) is an anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It tells the story of a kind and devout enslaved man, and highlights the brutal realities of slavery in the South. The book played a significant role in shaping public opinion about slavery and was highly influential in fueling the abolitionist movement in the United States. Its emotional portrayal of slavery helped galvanize support for the end of slavery, contributing to tensions that led to the Civil War.

Free Soil Party

a political party active in the United States from 1848 to 1854, primarily focused on opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories. The party emphasized the belief that slavery should not be allowed to spread into new territories and states. It was formed by a coalition of anti-slavery activists, former Whigs, and Democrats who were dissatisfied with the major parties' positions on slavery. While the it did not win significant political power, it helped lay the groundwork for the formation of the Republican Party in 1854, which would go on to play a key role in the abolition of slavery.

Fugitive Slave Law

a law passed in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850. It required that escaped enslaved people be returned to their owners, even if they were found in free states. The law mandated that citizens and law enforcement officials assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves, and it imposed heavy penalties on anyone who helped slaves escape. The act was highly controversial, leading to increased tensions between the North and South, as many in the North were outraged by the law and worked to resist its enforcement. It further fueled the abolitionist movement and deepened sectional divides, contributing to the onset of the Civil War.

Ostend Manifesto

a confidential document written in 1854 by American diplomats in Europe, advocating for the United States to acquire Cuba from Spain, by force if necessary. The manifesto argued that the U.S. had a right to take Cuba to expand its territory and protect American interests in the Caribbean, claiming it was vital for the security and prosperity of the nation. The document was leaked to the public and sparked outrage, particularly in the North, as it was seen as an attempt to expand slavery, since Cuba had a large enslaved population. The controversy surrounding the manifesto contributed to the growing sectional tensions between the North and South in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Kansas Nebraska Act

a law passed in 1854 that created two territories and allowed the settlers in those territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, based on the principle of popular sovereignty. Introduced by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, the act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery in those territories. The law led to violent conflicts in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, known as "Bleeding Kansas", as both sides rushed to influence the outcome of the vote on slavery. The act heightened tensions between the North and South, contributing to the sectional divide that would eventually lead to the Civil War.

Bleeding Kansas

a period of violent conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in the Kansas Territory from 1854 to 1859. It was sparked by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed settlers in Kansas to decide whether the territory would permit slavery through popular sovereignty. As both pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups flooded into Kansas to influence the vote, clashes erupted. Notable incidents included the sacking of Lawrence, the Pottawatomie massacre, and ongoing skirmishes. The violence was a precursor to the larger conflict of the Civil War, highlighting the deep divisions over slavery in the United States.

Know Nothings

a nativist political movement in the United States during the mid-19th century, formally known as the American Party. It emerged in the 1850s, primarily in response to the growing immigration of Catholics, particularly Irish and German immigrants, who were viewed with hostility by native-born Americans. The movement advocated for strict immigration laws, the exclusion of immigrants from political offices, and the promotion of Protestant values. The party briefly gained significant political influence, but its support waned after the issue of slavery became the dominant political issue leading up to the Civil War.

Republican Party

founded in 1854 in response to the expansion of slavery into western territories, particularly following the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It emerged as an anti-slavery party, attracting former Whigs, Free Soilers, abolitionists, and anti-slavery Democrats who opposed the spread of slavery into new states and territories. The party’s platform centered on stopping the expansion of slavery and promoting free labor and economic development. Over time, the Republican Party became the party of Union preservation, abolition of slavery, and the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War.

Lecompton Constitution

a pro-slavery constitution written in 1857 for the state of Kansas. It was created by pro-slavery settlers and supported by President James Buchanan, but it was heavily contested by anti-slavery settlers who boycotted the convention. The constitution allowed slavery in Kansas and was pushed through despite the fact that the majority of Kansas settlers opposed it. It led to a political crisis, with fierce debates in Congress and across the nation. Ultimately, the Lecompton Constitution was rejected by Kansas voters in a referendum, and Kansas would later enter the Union as a free state in 1861. The controversy surrounding the constitution further deepened sectional divisions between the North and South.

Panic of 1857

a financial crisis in the United States caused by bank failures, the collapse of major businesses, and over-expansion of the railroad industry. It led to widespread unemployment and a sharp economic downturn, particularly affecting the North. The South was less impacted due to its reliance on agriculture. The panic increased sectional tensions between the North and South, contributing to the rising conflict over slavery.

Confederate States of America

a group of 11 Southern states that seceded from the United States between 1860 and 1861, primarily over the issue of slavery. Led by Jefferson Davis, they formed their own government and fought against the Union in the Civil War. It existed from 1861 until its defeat in 1865.

Compromise of 1850

a set of laws aimed at easing tensions between the North and South over slavery. It admitted California as a free state, allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico to decide on slavery, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and settled a border dispute between Texas and New Mexico. The compromise temporarily reduced sectional conflict but did not resolve the issues surrounding slavery.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

(1857) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved African American man, was not a U.S. citizen and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. The Court also declared that the federal government had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, effectively nullifying the Missouri Compromise. This decision heightened tensions over slavery and contributed to the rising sectional conflict leading to the Civil War.

John Brown

an abolitionist who believed in using violence to overthrow the institution of slavery. He is best known for his raid on the Harper's Ferry federal armory in 1859, where he hoped to arm enslaved people and incite a rebellion. The raid failed, and he was captured, tried, and executed. While his actions were controversial, he became a martyr for the abolitionist cause, and his raid intensified the sectional conflict between the North and South, contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass

a former enslaved African American who became a leading abolitionist, writer, and speaker. After escaping slavery, he became an influential advocate for the rights of African Americans, women, and all oppressed people. His powerful autobiographies, including Narrative of the Life of ______ and his speeches, like the famous What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, made him a prominent voice in the fight for emancipation and equality. He was also an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

Sumner Brooks Affair

(1856) was a violent incident in the U.S. Senate in which Preston Brooks, a South Carolina congressman, physically attacked Charles Sumner, a Massachusetts senator, with a cane. Sumner had delivered an anti-slavery speech, "The Crime Against Kansas," in which he criticized pro-slavery forces, including Brooks' relative, Senator Andrew Butler. In retaliation, Brooks confronted Sumner on the Senate floor and severely beat him. The attack highlighted the deepening divisions between the North and South over slavery and increased tensions leading up to the Civil War.

Election of 1860

a pivotal U.S. presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, won the presidency. His platform opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, which angered many in the South. As a result, several Southern states seceded from the Union after Lincoln's victory. The election was a major catalyst for the outbreak of the Civil War.